Dec 18, 2011

Don't you just love a good biscotti in the morning with a cup of coffee? These Italian biscotti cookies are loaded with pistachios and cranberries, then twice baked to form a crispy delicious cookie, perfect for dunking!

My husband always brings up the Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti I posted last year. I try not to make those too often because the two of us have no self-control when I bake them (so good!).

This year I played around with this cranberry-pistachio version which I adapted from last year's recipe. I cut back on the butter a bit which created a stickier dough... a bit messy to work with so I sprinkling some flour on the dough and cookie tin or you can handle the dough with wet hands but the results where so darn good I wouldn't change a thing next time!

In a stand mixer, mix butter and sugar on medium speed for 1-1/2 minutes. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined to make a dough.

Remove the dough (if too sticky sprinkle flour over it and on work surface). Divide into three pieces and form into long flat logs about 11 inches long x 1-1/2 inches wide.

Place on the lined baking sheets and bake 20-25 minutes.

When cool enough to handle, gently cut the loaves on the angle into 1/2 inch slices (a serrated bread knife works best).

Return to the baking sheet fitting as many as you can on the baking sheet, you may need to do this in batches. Bake the biscotti for another 3-4 minutes on each side, less if you like it softer. Makes 36 - 38.

Gina, these look fabulous! But, I am allergic to nuts, would chocolate chips work? Or any other suggestion? BTW, the To Die For Coconut Cookies turned out FABULOUS!!! Absolutely delicious! Made them for all my daughter's teachers - Thanks so much! Happy Holidays!!

I make pretty much this exact recipe every year for Christmas. The only difference in mine is that I use Almonds (a more traditional biscotti ingredient) instead of pistachios, and light olive oil instead of butter. I also add a splash of orange and almond extracts to add to the flavor. Yum.

I have always wanted to make biscotti and thanks to your recipe I finally did!! I also substituted almonds for pistachios. I couldn't find shelled pistachios. Can't wait to try them tonight!! Thanks for posting :)- AD

FYI, I don't think the instructions say when to add the vanilla. I did it with the eggs but almost missed it altogether. They are baking in the oven now and smell delicious! Great recipe! And the plastic wrap trick worked great!

I made these this evening to take to my pistachio loving mother for the holidays. Despite not being a big pistachio fan, I loved them! I think they may have converted me! I'm sure my mother is going to love them and I'll no doubt be making them for her (and myself!) frequently.

I forgot to add in the vanilla because I didn't see it in the directions when I was preparing the recipe. I used a vanilla sugar though so it didn't affect the biscotti in my opinion. My only real issue when making them was a crumbly cookie for the first few. I tried to cut with a sawing motion instead of slicing straight down. Once I tried slicing down, I had no problem getting the biscotti to stay together.

I tried it with the 50/50 blend of whole wheat and they came out good! Actually the whole wheat flavor accented the nutty flavor from the pistachios! Kind of like whole wheat pasta does with pine nuts. lol

vanilla step was skipped in your recipe. My biscotti is turning out great! they're cooling to be cut but i tasted a little corner and it is perfect!!! I used salted pistachios because that was all I had, but I don't taste it

This came out perfect. I didn't pulse sugar in blender and used raisin instead. So yummy. I ate almost 5 of them and was so happy. Thanks Gina. Also I used 1/4 0 cal sugar, 3/4 whole wheat flour and olive oil instead of butter. By mistake I put 1/4 more all purpose flour, I thought it should not be sticky(dough). yum,yum.

These were great, they just came out of the oven and I'm snacking on them. I ended up making 4 small logs becuase I had an odd size baking sheet so the pieces are a little smaller. I also added some white chocolate chips to them and I loved them! Thanks!!

I've just recently fallen across your blog and the receipies i've tried so far have been outstanding! I'm making Christmas gift baskets this year and these are going to be in them. Do you think that I can add white chocolate chips to these? If so, how can I incorporate them?